Fans filtered back into Zilker Park for Day Two of Weekend Two of Austin City Limits. As the temperature took a hotter rise so did fans' anticipation for the following day's line up with sizzling star power to come. Just as the artists' have a certain expectation for the energy of weekend two crowds, today's fans had plenty to look forward to with performances that unsurprisingly did not disappoint. It was a banger of a day with louder and faster performances than yesterday and comes close to exceeding that of the first.
Leisure
The day started off promising again with New Zealand's indie-pop and nu-disco band, Leisure. Clad in all black attire, they let their music do the coloring with synth waves and funky bass picks that interweaved throughout the crowd causing a universal sway. Their alluring rhythm was at its best with a setlist that included chill classics such as "Lonely Nights," "Got It Bad" and of course, "Slipping Away." Hailing all the way from Auckland, they brought their vibrant atmosphere for all to come and get lost in between the harmony of their voices and the labyrinth of sound that consumes any negative feelings and emanates pure vibes.
Ocean Alley
Another band from the down under, Ocean Alley, also served up the funk with a side of rock to properly jam out under the blistering Austin sun. Not shy from the heat themselves, the Australian rock band fell into the groove with a set of songs that had fans bouncing along to every beat. Baden Donegal's smooth voice conquered the group's hits such as "Tangerine," "Yellow Mellow" and their number one single, "Confidence." Also added into the mix was a breezy cover of "Baby Come Back" by Player with all the emphasis of the roaring guitar melodies. For such an energetic set, Ocean Alley kept it cool with a balance of musical precision and nonchalance that made one nerve grow tired of bobbing their head back and forth.
Marina
Going to the pop side of the park, Marina was an ethereal force to be reckoned with. Her soaring melodies and gothic overtones tied up in a bow with sensual dancing here and there defined what it means to put on a show. As the femme fatale of the festival, Marina kept it all things glamorous, beautifully belting out her kaleidoscope of a setlist with fan favorites' "Bubblegum Bitch" and "Froot." It was a bewitching affair to watch her get carried away by her own melody and by the time she started to sing the opening lines of "Primadonna," the audience was flying right up there with her.
Magdalena Bay
Blending the funk with the pop, Magdalena Bay put on a visually exhilarating performance that complemented Mica Tenenbaum's stunning vocals. Promptly jumping into it with "Image," Tenenbaum ran out onto the stage in her signature blue pantaloons and streaked blue makeup. The show was non-stop with the first song immediately transforming into the next. Her energy never died down, only containing it for the slower side of the set before amping it back up for big numbers such as "Cry for Me." There were three costume changes for the lead vocalist, each covered by a raucous but pleasant guitar solo from her partner in crime, Matthew Lewin. One after another, each song played its part in bringing their music to life with an elaborate set design, moving props and featured strange characters. There was a lot to see and hear with this one and Tenenbaum's hauntingly sweet vocals glossed over it all, making it a luminous production.
Doechii
One of the most highly anticipated shows of the early evening, and the whole weekend for that matter, Doechii delivered one of the most exciting sets yet. With DJ Miss Milan as her personal hype master, The Swamp Princess was untamed on the stage, losing all control in the sexiest way to the beats Milan was spinning. Her set was filled with a bass that could be heard throughout the whole park that gathered more stragglers to the already overwhelming crowd that stretched from the American Express stage to beyond. There is no denying that Doechii is a fan favorite, not just for her ability to clap out clean raps, but for her unapologetic confidence in her talent. It is simply easy to fall in line behind the millions of fans she has garnered for the fierceness and loveable personality she displayed on stage today. Spitting out beloved bars such as "Bitch I'm Nice" and "Swamp Bitches," both Doechii and the crowd went wild with euphoria from the savage spirit of it all. Another highlight, among many, included a rock rendition of the platinum single, "Anxiety" which featured rising electric guitar riffs that added a special layer of drama just for the show. The Florida rapper sure knows how to get a crowd going but with her stage persona, but that is not to say she isn't personable. Throughout the set, she interacted with the crowd often, bonding over those with Southern ties and conversing about her favorite peanuts from Florida. Before the show was even halfway through she declared, "I'll be back, Austin." It was an ecstatic performance full of wholesome and awesome moments such as this one that revealed the multifaceted nature of Doechii who can connect with a crowd of 100,00 plus as well as just the person standing in front of her.
Djo
Djo took things in an alternative way kicking his show off with a slow start before jumping into a techno flurry of strobe lights and synth beats. He meshed the acoustic with the electric flipping back and forth between the extravagant and the simple as he performed "Basic being Basic" at one moment and "Charlie's Garden" the next. It was a satisfying setlist that consisted of the majority of The Crux with Djo's mild vocals following suit with a blend of moments of soft delivery and powerful outcry. For a later evening show, it was at times shockingly intimate though, his electro-bursts re-filled the energy where it was most needed to make it to the highly awaited finale of his hit single, "End of Beginning."
The Strokes
For finishing off Night Two at the T-Mobile stage, The Strokes shut down the park. Another highly anticipated performance with a setlist to die for, the New Yorkers brought on all the cool and angst that makes them one of the most treasured American rock bands. Per usual, Julian Casablancas was up front and center sliding around with his dark shades singing through each bassline gem from across acclaimed albums including Is This It and The New Abnormal. It was a remarkable sight to see with a sizable crowd for sore eyes.
Fans were taken down a fantastic strip of memory lane as the band ripped their swift and loud 2000s tunes that combined the best of garage rock, punk and indie elements. Despite the modernized set that was decked out with multicolor strobe lights, the music itself was reminiscent of when the band first slammed down on the scene with their leather and greasy hair way back when. Julian Casabalancas still sounds as stylish as ever with his distorted voice singing cult classics "Reptilia," "Under Control," "You Only Live Once" and "Someday" among other pieces of musical excellence that has come to define the Stroke's discography. He also still has that sly humor, having made several sarcastic, but good-humored passes at his bandmates. There was also a moment where he attempted to communicate with Sabrina Carpenter, who was performing across the park at the American Express Stage. As another star-powered show, her music could be heard all the way across to the Stroke's stage to which Casablancas commented, "Hey, Sabrina, what's up?" He then expressed lament for the fans having to choose between the two of them. Another particular standout moment, if they can even be counted, was the performance of "Ode to the Mets," which was not performed the previous weekend but was added to the setlist for this one upon heavy request, solidifying the stereotype that weekend two is of the ACL festival reigns supreme to weekend one.
For such a large-scale event, the band was commonly causal, like many celebrated artists, allowing the music to do the real performing. That does not mean the band doesn't have stage presence - quite the opposite. The Strokes still maintain the same boyish charisma that made them so charming in the first place with their love of music, specifically their love of the music they make. It was obvious they were having fun, so much fun that they extended their encore beyond their three song limit. Casablancas was especially in a good mood, taking in the moment and music with the show culminating in him falling to his knees to the closing chords of their final encore song. It was spectacular in the most magnificent and rock sense imaginable.
Sabrina Carpenter
Across the way at American Express, Sabrina Carpenter sparkled across the stage with her luminescent wardrobe and equally glittery personality. As expected, she hit every note with grace and flirtation reeling in the leftover fans from the previously concluded Stroke's set. As if she doesn't subdue the hearts of thousands herself, she brought out special guest The Chicks to help her cover their own song "Wide Open Spaces" as well as perform one of her top singles, "Please Please Please." It was a perfectly quiet moment amidst the spectacle of pizzazz that surrounds a Carpenter show as the two artists harmonized to the acoustic guitar for their respective songs. They were in perfect sync, and the moments exhibited Carpenter's musical range as well as her ability to playfully switch things in a classy manner. Following this sweet surprise, Carpenter closed out with a couple more loveable hits, including "Don't Smile" and "Espresso," which were finalized with a glowing spray of fireworks into the night sky adding a luminosity to the already brilliant city lights of Austin. It was truly a show of all trades and Carpenter showed the Texans her idea of a rowdy good time.